Cycling in Tuscany?

[JEA1K]

Looks like Spain is off the cards next month and I have a week booked in the South in Salobrena where we'd planned to ride and take a look at some properties in the area.

Italy currently looks like it has low infection rates so could be an option but I think that the Lakes will have cooled down too much by then so was thinking of Tuscany. I went there about 16 years or so ago on hols an stayed about 14 km from Florence ... in the middle of summer, of course it was baking but the roads looked great. It looks slightly more mountainous as you head inland from Viareggio but I wondered if anyone has spent any time riding out there and could recommend any particular areas?

[Pericoloso]

The SS12 between Bagni di Lucca up to Abetone is a lovely winding road .

I was watching a car tour event passing on this route last year and lots of cyclists were passing .

Abetone is actually a ski resort in winter ,thus it is quite high up ,so I hope you're up for a climb .

TBH Tuscany has many minor roads suitable for cycling ,except the road surfaces in many places are terrible .

[Harleyboy]

Hi,
We were in Tuscany last year staying near Gaiole in Chianti. I hired a bike for a few days and had great fun going out for a couple of hours each day (family holiday so had to be mindful of time away)

The roads were great with a good mixture of A and B roads. Fairly hilly as you’d expect but nothing that bad. I was riding solo but the rental place (Tuscany Bike I think) did organise tours etc

Go for it, great fun!

[JEA1K]

Thanks both, hills/mountains/altitude/distance not an issue, the more challenging the better. Just struggling to find info on routes and road surface conditions. We won't be riding on gravel as the Mrs has her new bike arriving in a couple of weeks ;-)

[z4RRSchris]

JEA1K said:

Thanks both, hills/mountains/altitude/distance not an issue, the more challenging the better. Just struggling to find info on routes and road surface conditions. We won't be riding on gravel as the Mrs has her new bike arriving in a couple of weeks ;-)

went for 2 weeks a few years ago, great riding.

around Lucca / Quarrata is great and then down by Montevachi also very nice. You can do 1000m climbs or flat days.

[JEA1K]

z4RRSchris said:

went for 2 weeks a few years ago, great riding.

around Lucca / Quarrata is great and then down by Montevachi also very nice. You can do 1000m climbs or flat days.

Thanks for that, will take a look